Bessie Hotema

Bessie Hotema, 63, of Muskogee, Oklahoma passed away on November 22, 2020. She was born on September 7, 1957 to Don Charley, Sr. and Annie B. (nee Begay) Charley in Ganado, Arizona. She grew up in Chinle, Arizona and graduated from Chinle High School in 1976. After graduating she immediately moved to Muskogee to attend Bacone College. While attending Bacone College she met the love of her life, Benny Rae Hotema. They were married on February 4, 1978 at Cottonwood Day School campus by Naswood Burbank, pastor of Black Mountain Mission in Cottonwood, Arizona. She graduated from Bacone College on May 23, 1987 earning an associate of arts in accounting. She worked for many years for Murrow Indian Children’s Home in Muskogee as a house parent to many children who grew to love and cherish her as family. After leaving Murrow, she worked for Monarch, Inc. as an intake secretary. She made many close friends during her time there. She spent her latter years as a mother and grandmother to her four grandchildren and enjoyed family trips and gatherings. Bessie’s hobbies included sewing, beadwork, watching reality tv, and cooking stew and Navajo frybread for family occasions. Bessie was of Tsenjikini-The Cliff Dwellers People Clan; born for Todichiin-Bitter Water Clan; maternal grandfather-Bitahnii and paternal grandfather-Tabaaha-Water’s Edge Clan. She was preceded in death by her son, Benji R. Hotema; mother, Annie B. Charley; maternal grandparents, Hosteen Iyua Begay and Hasbah I. Begay. She is survived by her husband, Benny Hotema; daughter, Benita K. Hotema and husband Juan Becerra; son, Garret L. Hotema; grandchildren, Victor Hotema, Valencia Rodriguez, Jose Rodriguez, and Benito Rodriguez; siblings, Dale Charley of Chinle, Arizona, Emma M. Charley of Tucson, Arizona, Randall Charley of Whiteriver, Arizona, Emmaline Rae Charley of Tolleson, Arizona, Don Charley, Jr. of Chinle, Arizona; and father, Don Charley, Sr. A celebration of Bessie Hotema’s life will be 10am, Saturday, December 5, 2020 at Cornerstone Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. Rufus Hooper officiating. Interment will follow at Greenhill Cemetery.

Bessie Hotema

September 7, 1957 - November 22, 2020